If you managed to get confused about where all the results from the different search engines are coming from you're not the only one. So where's your first point of call? It would have to be the ever-useful Search Engine Watch resource site and it's Search Engine Results Chart. It's updated at regular intervals and is worth a look every now and then just keep fresh in your mind the way the compass is pointing (and to stop you from searching three different sites that all have the same results).

There's a more detailed analysis available on the site for Search Engine Watch Members. You can join now by clicking here.

June 20, 2003

Google Adsense

Google have introduced an interesting expansion in the publishing of their Pay-Per-Click Advertising Program, Google Adwords. The system is called Google Adsense and allows publishers to apply for the ability to display Adwords on their own sites (see the banner advert at the top of this page).

Personally I think this system is not a step in the right direction for Google Adwords. It may be good for publishers (including nzbase.com - so who said you can't bite the hand the feeds you?) but it's too open to abuse when dealing with fake clicks and 'illegal' loading of adverts. Previously some of the other PPC engines (findwhat, sprinks) appear to have removed large numbers of affiliates to deal with the fake traffic and spam problem.

Espotting have released a press statement detailing the intention to merge with FindWhat.com. The transaction (according to the press statement) values Espotting at $163 Million (US).

The board of 'Europe's largest online advertising medium' ESPOTTING MEDIA INC. announced today an agreement to merge with Nasdaq listed FindWhat.com (Nasdaq FWHT), a leading developer and provider of performance-based marketing services for the Internet. Both companies operate online marketplaces that connect the consumers that are most likely to purchase specific goods and services with the advertisers that provide those goods and services. At FindWhat.com's closing share price on June 17, 2003, the transaction values Espotting at $163 million (£97 million / Euro 138 million).

This from an email to Espotting Advertisers:
Q: Will this affect my current traffic?
A: As it is business as usual, this will have no impact on your current traffic. As a result of the merger, you can benefit from an increase in high-quality traffic from different territories if you wish, provided your company can service those territories. For example, you can now open a US account with FindWhat.com.

Overture have announced the sale of the recently acquired AltaVista Enterprise Search to Fast. Fast recently sold their Web Search Unit to Overture. Cnet have reported the deal as being an 'all-cash deal' although the price has not been disclosed. The immediate result has been an increase in the share price for both Overture and Fast.

Following speculation for the last few months, Google VP of Advertising - Tim Armstrong (according to an article today by Andrew Goodman) announced that no new Premium Sponsorships will be accepted and existing advertisers will not be able to renew. This will move Google out of the less relevant 'big budget' CPM deals and put advertisers on a slightly more even footing for pay-per-click traffic ranked by 'interest'.

After wandering around some interesting New Zealand small business sites today I came across the Statistics New Zealand site which has some interesting reports. If you're looking for details on your current market (in New Zealand of course) this seems to be the place to go. Some of the data is a little out-of-date (ie from the 2001 Census) but there's a few interesting tidbits and a useful search facility...

Judge dismisses suit against Google - "The court simply finds there is no conceivable way to prove that the relative significance assigned to a given Web site is false," in-other-words "I think you're an idiot for even bringing this case too me". I humbly agree.